Ede, Gelderland, Netherlands
Born in 1983 in Rotterdam and partly raised in Luxembourg, I have always operated at the intersection of culture, creativity and technology. My career began in ICT after completing my vocational IT studies in Arnhem, after which I discovered my passion for education and continued my training at the Academy of Physical Education in Nijmegen. In the years that followed, I fulfilled various roles across education and the sports sector — from PE teacher at the International Primary School Aletta Jacobsschool to team leader at Sportbedrijf Arnhem, where I led sport and health initiatives. During this time, I also developed GymWijzer!®, a digital learning tool that supports cooperative learning in physical education. My technological trajectory sharpened when I became an ICT lecturer at Rijn IJssel and later joined the Techadoptie practoraat, where I focused on bridging care and welfare technology with modern pedagogy. Beginning in 2021, I further deepened my educational and technological expertise as lecturer/developer and learning team coach within the HU programs Digital Technology & Media and Software Development. Since 2023, I have worked at Open-ICT (Hogeschool Utrecht), a bachelor program built on holistic, student-centered learning processes. Alongside my work in education, I am an entrepreneur. With Mariany Design and Mariany Hosting, I support over 150 clients with web design, hosting and digital solutions. In recent years my focus has intensified toward AI, data sovereignty and educational innovation. I am CEO & Co-founder of CivAI, the company behind EduGPT, GovGPT and OrgGPT: European, human-centered and privacy-safe AI ecosystems. Through projects such as the Prompt Companion, the AI Literacy Companion and the EduGPT AI-Companions, I am committed to shaping a future where AI works for people, not the other way around. I live in Bennekom with my partner Marjolein, our two children and dog. My work is grounded in the belief that learning is a lifelong journey, and that technology can enrich that journey when designed responsibly and with humanity at its core. Discover how Onderwijs Orakel (https://onderwijsorakel.nl) and CivAI (https://civai.eu) can strengthen and innovate your organisation.
As CEO and Co-founder of CivAI, I lead the development of European, human-centered and privacy-secure AI ecosystems. At CivAI, we build EduGPT, GovGPT and OrgGPT – sovereign AI environments that give organizations full control over their data, their models and their infrastructure. My work focuses on designing secure EU-hosted AI architectures, developing AI companions for education and government, and translating European AI regulation into responsible, practical solutions. In this role, I oversee the product development of the Prompt Companion, AI Literacy Companion and the Teacher Dashboard. I collaborate closely with software engineers, educators and governance specialists to create AI applications that are both technically robust and pedagogically meaningful. I also guide pilot programs with schools, municipalities and public networks, ensuring that our technology directly improves learning, decision-making and organizational workflows. CivAI is built on the belief that AI should be accessible without dependency, without data risk and with humanity at its core. From that mission, I work to shape a new generation of European AI systems that prioritize sovereignty, safety and real human impact.
At the Teaching & Learning Network (TLN), we work as education professionals on innovations within degree programmes and on the professional development of lecturers, teams of lecturers, and researchers. Within TLN we organise workshops, masterclasses, inspiration sessions and other activities aimed at innovating degree programmes and advancing higher education didactics, with a particular focus on sustainable development. TLN also seeks to provide a platform for sharing good ideas and best practices in higher education and practice‑based research.
Do you enjoy hands-on learning and love a challenge? Then Open-ICT is for you! This program is part of the HBO-ICT degree. From day one, you will work on real-world projects for actual clients. At Open-ICT, professional skills take center stage—helping you develop the expertise you need to succeed in your future career. This enables you to acquire new knowledge more effectively and create high-quality products. A personalized learning journey Every two weeks, you meet with your mentor to discuss your progress and decide your next steps. This unique approach allows you to take charge of your learning path and discover what kind of ICT specialist you want to become. From day one, you will tackle IT challenges from real companies, gaining firsthand experience in the ICT field. You will work on web applications, mobile apps, Artificial Intelligence solutions, security, and cloud services—everything related to designing, developing, and securely deploying software solutions. At Open-ICT, you learn by doing and independently build your expertise, helping you quickly discover what excites you and where your strengths lie. Why choose Open-ICT? ✅ Small-scale and personal education: Professors and students know each other well, and you receive individual guidance throughout your studies. ✅ Extensive practical experience: You gain valuable real-world experience by working on projects for real companies, immersing yourself in the ICT profession. ✅ Engaged instructors with industry experience: Your teachers are highly involved in your development and provide personalized guidance. Many of them have strong networks within IT companies. By the time you complete your HBO-ICT Open-ICT program, you will have so much hands-on experience that the IT world will be at your feet. 🚀
Ad Digital Technology & Media and Ad Software Development The Ad Digital Technology & Media program has a broad profile, covering everything from Broadcast to Digital Product Development, including Crossmedia solutions, technical skills, process methodologies, and projects. In the Ad Software Development program, students learn everything needed to develop software for large information systems, web applications, and mobile apps. They gain expertise in understanding client requirements and translating them into engaging and user-friendly software solutions. To help students succeed in collaborative learning environments, a large part of the lecturer/developer role includes learning team supervision and coaching.
On behalf of Onderwijs Orakel, I have started working for LesLab. My role focuses on implementing innovative educational technologies that personalize and enrich the learning experience for students while reducing teachers' workload where possible. Together, we are committed to leveraging technology in a way that truly makes an impact in education.
Onderwijs Orakel: The ultimate place for inspiration, tools, and techniques for education and businesses!
MARIANYDESIGN aims to stand out in terms of customer-friendliness, customization, and pricing. Since every client is unique, we approach each project individually. We carefully determine which features are essential and which are unnecessary for each client. This way, you only pay for the functionalities you truly need, avoiding unnecessary costs. What We Offer: ✔ Apps for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone ✔ Web hosting ✔ Website management ✔ And more... 📌 For more information, visit: www.marianydesign.com 💡 Hosting services are also available for both existing and new clients. Find out more at: www.marianyhosting.com 🚀